Polymer compositions, the preparation and use thereof as well as shaped parts and the preparation thereof

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a polymer composition as well as to a process for the preparation of such a composition wherein two or more essentially incompatible polymers, each containing functional hydroxy groups and/or functional amino groups, are in contact with each other in the presence of at least one compatibilizer, the compatibilizer being a carbonyl bislactam (CBL) having the structure according to formula (I), where n is an integer from 3 to 15 and preferably 5. Preferably, the compatibilizer is carbonyl biscaprolactam. Depending on the ratio of the number of functional —OH or —NH 2  groups to the CBL, the composition can be used as a polymer dispersion, for instance for improvement of the impact resistance or of the VICAT, or as a copolymer. The invention also relates to shaped parts containing at least two parts that are in contact with each other via a boundary face, each of these parts comprising a different polymer, which polymers are essentially incompatible polymers and contain functional hydroxy groups and/or functional amino groups and with at least one of said polymers having reacted with carbonyl bislactam or containing carbonyl bislactam. The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of said shaped part. The shaped part can be prepared by means of coextrusion, insert moulding or overmoulding.

The invention relates to new polymer compositions, a process for thepreparation of these compositions, as well as the use of thesecompositions, for instance for improvement of the impact resistance orthe adhesion.

More in particular the invention relates to polymer compositions of twoor more essentially incompatible polymers, which contain functionalhydroxy groups (—OH) or functional amino groups (—NH₂), and further aprocess for the preparation of shaped parts. The invention furtherrelates to shaped parts containing at least two parts that are incontact with each other via a boundary face and with each of these partscontaining a different polymer, these polymers being essentiallyincompatible polymers and containing functional hydroxy groups orfunctional amino groups. More in particular it relates to shaped partsin the form of laminates or sheathed monofilaments, for instanceobtained by means of coextrusion, or injection moulding products.

Polymer compositions that are used as construction material generallyhave the highest possible stiffness, which often goes hand in hand witha low toughness and a low tear resistance. To improve the toughness andtear resistance of such construction materials, impact modifiers areusually added. These generally are elastomeric polymers, and gooddispersion of these polymers in the polymeric construction material isimportant. To obtain a good dispersion, the two polymers may on the onehand essentially be incompatible, in this application also calledimmiscible, but on the other hand incompatible polymer components inprinciple get in the way of the formation of a fine dispersion.

To achieve a good dispersion of an elastomeric polymer in, for instance,a semi-crystalline polymeric construction material when using two (ormore) incompatible polymers, polymers of the type used as constructionmaterial can be modified to give them such a functionality as to enablethem to react with the elastomeric polymer.

This principle is used, for instance, in EP-A-0 202 214 and in EP-A-0402 528, which describe polymer compositions of a polyamide, anacrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene graft polymer (ABS) and a terpolymer,obtained by polymerization of styrene, acrylonitrile and maleicanhydride. Polyamide polymers and polymers of the ABS type areimmiscible and therefore form two separate phases upon mixing. The poormiscibility leads to a polymer composition with relatively poormechanical properties. The terpolymer acts as compatibilizer between thepolyamide and the ABS polymer, and its use in the composition leads toan improved dispersion and impact resistance.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,436,397 describes compositions on the basis ofsyndiotactic polystyrene (sPS) and an elastomeric component, ascompatibilizer a functionalized syndiotactic polystyrene beingincorporated which is capable of reaction with the elastomericcomponent. As examples of functionalized syndio-tactic polystyrenesmention is made of: copolymers of styrene-p-methylstyrene orstyrene-divinylbenzene, sPS with terminal glycidyl methacrylate, sPSmodified with maleic anhydride or styrene-divinylbenzene copolymers ontowhich glycidyl methacrylate or maleic anhydride is grafted by means ofradical initiators.

A major drawback of the polymer compositions and processes for theirpreparation as described above is that for each combination of polymersa custom-made copolymer is to be prepared as compatibilizer. In view ofthe small amounts in which these polymeric compatibilizers are needed,this is hardly ever commercially attractive.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,442 further describes a process for the preparationof copolymers of diprimary dialcohol polyesters, such as polyethyleneterephthalate and bisphenol A polycarbonates, which polymers as such areincompatible, by heating the polymer mixture for 30-60 minutes to atemperature of 260±20° C. with stirring at a pressure of less than 1 mmHg. The nature of the reactive groups, however, entails that a “living”system is obtained in which the reaction continues. A drawback of theprocess described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,507,442 is that it takes relativelymuch time.

The object of the invention is to provide a polymer compositioncontaining two or more essentially incompatible polymers, which containfunctional hydroxy groups or functional amino groups, as well as acompatibilizer, the compatibilizer essentially being universallyapplicable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a process in which theabove-mentioned problem is solved by providing an essentially universalcompatibilizer for the preparation of a dispersion of two or moreessentially incompatible polymers, which contain functional hydroxygroups or functional amino groups.

Surprisingly, it has now been found that these objects can be achievedin that the compatibilizer is carbonyl bislactam (CBL) and the polymercomposition contains at least two phases. The invention thereforerelates to a polymer composition where two or more essentiallyincompatible polymers are in contact with each other in the presence ofat least one compatibilizer, characterized in that the polymercomposition contains at least two phases and in that this compatibilizeris carbonyl bislactam (CBL) of the following formula (I):

where n is an integer from 3 to 15.

Preferably the polymer composition comprises two or more essentiallyincompatible polymers, these polymers all containing functional hydroxygroups and/or functional amino groups.

Preferably carbonyl biscaprolactam is used as compatibilizer. This is acompound according to formula I, where n=5.

The term “compatibilizer”, as used here, is understood to mean achemical compound or composition that is capable of keeping two or morepolymers in close and permanent association for an indefinite period oftime.

The term “polymers with functional hydroxy groups”, as used here, isunderstood to mean polymers that have at least a functional —OH group;preferably the average number of functional —OH groups is 0.05 to 2 perpolymer chain; more preferably the average number of functional —OHgroups is 0.2 to 2 per polymer chain. An average number of functional—OH groups that is smaller than 1 occurs in those cases where not allchains in a polymer contain an —OH group. This is for instance the casein a polymer mixture of a polymer with functional —OH groups and anotherpolymer without functional —OH groups.

The term “polymers with functional amino groups”, as used here, isunderstood to mean polymers that have at least a functional —NH₂ group;preferably the average number of functional —NH₂ groups is 0.05 to 2 perpolymer chain; more preferably the average number of functional —NH₂groups is 0.2 to 2 per polymer chain. An average number of functional—NH₂ groups that is smaller than 1 occurs in those cases where not allchains in a polymer contain an —NH₂ group. This is for instance the casein a polymer mixture of a polymer with functional —NH₂ groups andanother polymer without functional —NH₂ groups.

The term “incompatible polymers”, as used here, is understood to meanpolymers that cannot be homogeneously mixed, it being possible todemonstrate, using techniques known to one skilled in the art, that amixture of such polymers consists of two or more phases.

The term “essentially incompatible polymers that are in contact witheach other”, as used here, is understood to mean at least twoessentially incompatible polymers, with a clear boundary face beingpresent between these polymers. A clear boundary face betweenessentially incompatible polymers is present in a situation, hereafterreferred to as a dispersion, in which particles of a first phase, calleddisperse phase, are dispersed in a second phase, called continuousphase, but also a situation in which a first and a second polymer are incontact with each other via a macroscopic boundary face, such as forinstance in a multilayer laminate.

A special embodiment of the present invention therefore relates to apolymer composition in which two or more essentially incompatiblepolymers that each contain functional hydroxy groups or functional aminogroups are dispersed with each other in the presence of at least onecompatibilizer, characterized in that this compatibilizer is carbonylbislactam (CBL) according to formula (I). The term “polymers that aredispersed with each other”, as used here, is understood to mean atwo-phase system in which particles of a first phase are dispersed in asecond phase. In this case, therefore, this does not concern asingle-phase system, in which a first phase is completely mixed with asecond phase, or in which said single phase is a block copolymer.

It has been found that the carbonyl bislactam defined above cangenerally be applied as a universal compatibilizer in a variety ofpolymer compositions with functional hydroxy or amino groups, oftenexhibiting surprising properties. Thus, for instance, contrary to whenisocyanates or epoxides are used, no side reactions such as gelling orcrosslinking occur.

Depending on the conditions under which the process according to theinvention is carried out, it is for instance possible to obtain aparticle size of the disperse phase of the polymer composition of lessthan about 10 μm, preferably less than about 3 μm, more preferably lessthan about 2 μm and most preferably about 0.1-2 μm. The best results areachieved with a particle size of the disperse phase of about 0.3-2 μm.This ensures that a good dispersion can be obtained using the originallyimmiscible polymers, without a custom-made compatibilizer having to beprepared. In addition, the universal compatibilizer according to theinvention has the advantage that it is low-molecular, so that only asmall amount by weight of it needs to be added.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention a polymercomposition is prepared that comprises at least a semi-crystalline or aglassified amorphous polymer (A) and an elastomeric polymer (B), A beingpresent in an amount by weight of 5 to 95% and B in an amount by weightof 95 to 5%, and A and B containing amino and/or hydroxy groups, orpolymer A and/or polymer B containing components that contain aminoand/or hydroxy groups.

In practice, different types of dispersions of polymer compositions oftwo or more polymer components can usually be distinguished. Two mainforms can be characterized as follows. In the first case the continuousphase substantially comprises semi-crystalline or a glassified amorphouspolymer, while an elastomeric polymer is added to enhance the impactresistance and the tear resistance. In the second case the continuousphase substantially comprises an elastomeric polymer, while asemi-crystalline or a glassified amorphous polymer is added to improvethe stiffness and/or the compression strength (VICAT). An example of thelatter case is a thermoplastic polyester to which a polyamide has beenadded to increase the compression strength. However, the presentinvention is by no means limited to combinations of amorphous andsemi-crystalline polymers, combinations of crystalline polymers forinstance also being possible, as well as combinations of amorphouspolymers.

The use of a carbonyl bislactam, preferably carbonyl bis-caprolactam, ascompatibilizer as defined above generally leads to a better dispersionof the polymer compositions. This is expressed in polymer compositionswith improved properties, such as an improved impact resistance or animproved VICAT, depending on the specific composition of the polymerdispersion, compared with a similar state of the art composition.

The amounts of or the ratio between the polymers in the polymercomposition are not necessarily critical and are determined inparticular by the demands of the application. In a polymer compositionwith a disperse phase usually a few percents up to several tens ofpercents of the polymer will be chosen that needs to be present as thedisperse phase. In a polymer composition consisting of, for instance, atwo-layer laminate, the ratio of the first polymer in the first layer tothe second polymer in the second layer may even be 50%: 50%. In yetanother situation it may be possible to use only a small amount of asecond polymer, if this gives adequate adhesion or interaction for saidapplication. It is for instance possible to add a small amount of apolymer with functional hydroxyl or amino groups to a polymer withoutfunctional hydroxyl or amino groups so as to functionalize the polymerwithout functional hydroxyl or amino groups and thus create thepossibility of (improvement of) adhesion, or the situation, to bediscussed later, in which a polymer is present on a substrate, forinstance a glass fibre. In this case, too, only a small amount ofpolymer with functional hydroxyl or amino groups is needed to cover thesurface area of the substrate in such a way as to achieve adequateadhesion or interaction with another polymer with functional hydroxyl oramino groups.

The amount of CBL to be added is not very critical and depends mainly onthe desired degree of dispersion of the polymer to be dispersed. Oneskilled in the art can readily determine, through experimentation, thedesired ratio, usually depending on the specific polymers used, the CBLto be used and the relevant application. Preferably the molar ratiobetween the number of available functional —OH or —NH₂ groups of thepolymers to be dispersed and the CBL lies between 500:1 and 10:1. As ageneral rule, at a ratio in excess of 500:1 usually a too low degree ofdispersion is achieved. At a ratio below 10:1 a situation may arise inwhich the miscibility of the two polymers becomes so high that adispersion is hardly formed, usually mainly a block copolymer beingformed. This will occur particularly at long residence times duringpreparation of the dispersion. The maximum residence at a given amountof the compound according to formula (I) at which a dispersion is stillpresent can readily be determined by means of routine experiments by oneskilled in the art. In some case one skilled in the art will want tochoose an amount of the compound according to formula (I) that is higherthan that needed for the preparation of a dispersion or he will want toachieve a situation in which not yet all of the amount of the compoundaccording to formula (I) has reacted. This can be controlled via theresidence time, a shorter residence time giving a higher amount ofcompound according to formula I that has not reacted or has reacted onlyunilaterally. Such a situation with a so-called surplus of the compoundaccording to formula (I) may be desirable if the polymer compositionobtained should exhibit residual activity, for instance if the polymercomposition is still to be applied as an adhesive layer between layersof essentially incompatible polymers in a multilayer laminate. Thesurplus of the compound according to formula (I) in the polymercomposition can then be used to improve good adhesion between the layersof essentially incompatible polymers in a multilayer laminate.

According to the process of the present invention two or moreessentially incompatible polymers are mixed with a carbonyl bislactamcompound according to formula (I), said polymers each possessingfunctional hydroxy groups and/or functional amino groups. Preferably thepolymers all have either functional hydroxy groups or functional aminogroups. In that case, therefore, the polymers are either hydroxyfunctional, or amino functional. However, it is also possible for thecontinuous phase to substantially comprise a polymer with functionalhydroxy groups, which is contacted with the compatibilizer according tothe invention, after which a polymer with functional amino groups isadded as disperse phase.

Optionally the polymers may also contain other functional groups, suchas for instance —COOH. The CBL, however, reacts exclusively with the—NH₂ and —OH functional groups; functional polymers that also possess—COOH functionality react with the —OH functional groups or the —NH₂functional groups.

The composition according to the invention can be prepared in a simplemanner using the customary techniques and equipment and this preparationwill therefore not present any problems to one skilled in the art. Thepreparation may for instance take place by mixing and melting thestarting polymers in customary melt-mixing equipment, for instance aHaake kneader, a Brabender mixer, a single-screw or twin-screw extruderor a static mixer, and incrementally adding the desired amount of CBLduring mixing (reactive extrusion). It is also possible for allcomponents to be combined in a single operation and to be premixed insolid condition before being melted and mixed or being contacted witheach other. The preparation temperature is not very critical and willgenerally vary from about 100° C. to about 350° C. The preparation canbe carried out both continuously and batchwise. A further advantage ofthe process according to the invention is that it generally takes only 1to 10 minutes.

If desired the preparation can be carried out with the aid of a suitablecatalyst. Suitable catalysts may be acids as well as bases. For anoverview of such catalysts, see WO-A-01/66609, the contents of which areconsidered to be incorporated herein.

Suitable polymers with functional hydroxy groups that can be used in theprocess according to the invention for instance include polyesters, suchas polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT)and polycaprolacton; polyethers, such as polytetrahydrofuran,polyethylene glycol, polypropylene glycol; hydroxy-functionalpolybutadiene; polydimethyl siloxane and poly(meth)acrylates thatcontain hydroxyethyl(meth)acrylate; polyvinylalcohol; cellulose.

Suitable polymers with functional amino groups that can be used in theprocess according to the invention for instance include aliphaticpolyamides, such as polyamide-4, polyamide-6, polyamide-8,polyamide-4,6, polyamide-6,6, polyamide-6,10, polyamides derived from analiphatic diamine and an aromatic dicarboxylic acid, for instancepolyamide-4,T, polyamide-6,T, polyamide-4, I, where T representsterephthalate and I represents isophthalate, copolyamides of linearpolyamides and copolyamides of an aliphatic and a partially aromaticpolyamide, for instance polyamide-6/6,T and polyamide-6/6,I;amino-terminated polyethers, such as amino-functionalpolytetrahydrofuran, amino-functional polyethylene glycol,amino-functional polypropylene glycol, amino-functional polybutadiene,amino-functional butadiene and amino-functional acrylonitrile.

It has further been found that it is not only possible with the presentinvention to obtain a polymer composition comprising a stable dispersionof two essentially incompatible polymers, but that it generally becomespossible to improve the adhesion or the interaction between twoessentially incompatible polymers. This type of adhesion is for instancefound in shaped parts containing several phases that are in contact witheach other, which shaped parts are built up of different polymers. Inthe present application, several phases are also understood to beseveral parts.

Another situation in which a universal compatibilizer plays a role isthat in which, for instance, fillers and/or reinforcing agents arecoated or subjected to a so-called sizing operation in order to improvethe distribution of this type of substances in a polymer matrix. Coatingor sizing of this type of inorganic substrates usually involves theapplication of silane and/or titanate compounds as well as polymersincluding polyacrylates and/or polyurethanes to the surface of thissubstrate. When fillers and/or reinforcing agents that have beencoated/sized are incorporated into a polymer matrix so that a compoundis obtained, the better distribution results in better properties of thecompound than would have been achieved if it contained fillers and/orreinforcing agents that had not been coated/sized. An added advantage inthe cases in which the substrate contains a polymer with functionalhydroxy groups and/or functional amino groups is that the presentinvention also makes it possible to improve the adhesion between thepolymer matrix with functional hydroxy groups and/or functional aminogroups and the polymer with functional hydroxy groups and/or functionalamino groups on the substrate. This results in better adhesion betweenthe polymer matrix and the substrate: the fillers and/or reinforcingagents. This better adhesion will be reflected not only in highermechanical properties, but also in better retention of mechanicalproperties under wet conditions, a better so-called hydrolyticalstability.

Fillers and/or reinforcing agents are understood to be the fillersand/or reinforcing agents customarily used in the polymer industry, forinstance kaolin, talc, mica and glass spheres, fibres and flakes.Preferably the CBL is added to the sizing that is added to thesubstrate. As a result, less CBL will be needed to achieve goodadhesion.

The present invention thus not only makes it possible to improve theinteraction at micro scale, so that a stable dispersion is obtained, asalready described, but the adhesion or the interaction between twoessentially incompatible polymers can also be improved at macro scale.Micro scale is understood to mean that the contact area between the twoessentially incompatible polymers is divided in a large number ofsurface areas of the order of magnitude of 1 mm² or less, whereas thiscontact area is substantially larger at macro scale. The contact area isthe area where a separate part of the one polymer is in contact with theother part. At micro scale this contact area is for instance formed bythe surface area of a disperse particle or a glass fibre that isprovided with a polymer with functional hydroxy groups and/or functionalamino groups. At macro scale this contact area is for instance formed bythe surface area at which two layers in a laminate are in contact witheach other. An example of macro scale adhesion or interaction betweentwo polymers is in a shaped part consisting of at least two parts thatare in contact with each other, each of the parts having been preparedfrom a different polymer with terminal amino and/or hydroxy groups.

An example of such a shaped part is a laminate obtained by coextrusionof two or more polymers in at least two layers. This may take the formof a multilayer film or sheet, in which each layer may for instanceimpart specific properties. Other examples are fibre, tube or profileextrusion of two polymers, in which for instance a hard and a softpolymer are extruded. The choice of the polymers used for the respectivephases will depend on the application. Use may be made of a combinationof a hard and a soft polymer in which the latter can give a soft-touchcharacter, but also of polymers with specific barrier, mechanical oreven tribological properties.

To this end for instance a polyester phase may give a high stiffness,particularly under wet conditions, while a polyamide phase may giveabrasion resistance. An example of a shaped part is, for instance, amonofilament with a core of polyester, for instance PET, and a sheath ofpolyamide, for instance polyamide 6. Such monofilaments can be used invarious leisure articles, for instance a grass mower or a lawn edgetrimmer, but also in industry, for instance in filter cloths for thepaper industry or in wear-resistant brushes. Another example of such ashaped part is formed when a polymer part is placed in aninjection-moulding mould and is there contacted with a melt of a secondpolymer, for instance by means of so-called overmoulding or insertmoulding. Overmoulding and insert moulding are customary terms in theart for processes in which a polymer part is surrounded by an injectedpolymer of another type. Polymers can be chosen from the suitablepolymers with functional amino and/or hydroxy groups that have alreadybeen mentioned. The polymers can be semi-crystalline as well asamorphous.

The invention therefore also relates to shaped parts containing at leasttwo parts that are in contact with each other via a boundary face and inwhich each of these parts contains a different polymer, these polymersbeing essentially incompatible polymers and containing functionalhydroxy groups and/or functional amino groups and at least one of saidpolymers having reacted with carbonyl bislactam or containing carbonylbislactam.

The invention further comprises a process for the preparation of ashaped part, comprising at least a first and a second part, the firstand the second part respectively containing a first and a secondpolymer, with each polymer containing functional hydroxy groups and/orfunctional amino groups, these parts being in contact with each othervia a boundary face, and with at least the first and/or second polymerhaving reacted with carbonyl bislactam, by contacting a melt of thesecond polymer with the first polymer. Preferably the carbonyl bislactamis carbonyl biscaprolactam.

An embodiment of the present invention comprises a process for thepreparation of a laminate consisting of at least two layers, containingpolymers that are in themselves incompatible and CBL. The adhesionbetween the layers is better than when a laminate is prepared from twoessentially incompatible polymers. This type of laminates is usuallyprepared via coextrusion. The choice of polymers from which the laminateis built up is determined also, apart from said terminal amino and/orhydroxy groups, by the requirements to be met in the application, forinstance barrier properties, tribological properties and mechanicalproperties, respectively.

In an embodiment of this process a polymer is provided with the carbonylbislactam prior to the coextrusion or during the coextrusion, forinstance by mixing the polymer with CBL or by adding CBL to a melt ofthis polymer, after which the laminate is formed by coextrusion with asecond polymer. Formation of the laminate can take place usingtechniques known to one skilled in the art and requires no furtherinventive effort. An advantage of this process is that an adhesive layerin between the layers of the laminate, as is customary in the art, isnot necessary. In another embodiment of a process according to theinvention an intermediate layer is provided as adhesive layer betweenthe separate layers of the laminate during coextrusion of at least twoessentially incompatible polymers. The intermediate layer is formed byCBL. CBL can be applied between the polymer layers as a melt, CBL meltat 115° C., or in solution. An example of a suitable solvent is acetone.

Another embodiment is the one in which use is made of an intermediatelayer in the form of a polymer composition comprising at least the firstand/or the second polymer and further CBL. This intermediate layer,based on the polymer composition, will form a bond with the two polymersin the separate layers of the laminate and will have virtually no effecton the properties of the laminate, this intermediate layer not beingbased on “foreign” material. Herein resides a major advantage comparedwith the adhesive layers commonly applied in the art, which are usuallybased on polyolefins. In those cases the high-temperature mechanicalproperties or the barrier properties will usually be adversely affected.

A further process according to the invention comprises overmoulding orinsert moulding. This involves placing a shaped part prepared from asuitable first polymer in a mould and surrounding it with a secondpolymer that is injected into the mould, with either the first and/orthe second polymer containing carbonyl bislactam. Preferably the firstpolymer, which is surrounded by the injected second polymer, containscarbonyl bislactam. Even more preferably the second polymer contains—NH₂ groups. This gives a faster reaction of the CBL, as present in thefirst polymer, with the second polymer.

In a process according to the macroscopic embodiment, too, the amount ofCBL to be added is not very critical, depending primarily on the degreeof adhesion or bond strength to be realized between the two polymers. Asa rule the amount of CBL that is chosen will not be too high, forinstance not higher than the amount of terminal amino and/or hydroxygroups in both polymers together. One skilled in the art can simplydetermine the desired amount of CBL through routine experiments, forinstance by mean of peel tests that can be used to determine theadhesion between the layers or the parts.

The preparation of the carbonyl bislactam to be used, for instance byreaction of the lactam in question with phosgene, is described in theliterature. See for instance JP-A-42017832. Carbonyl biscaprolactam iscommercially available from DSM at Geleen, the Netherlands.

In the polymer compositions according to the invention also additivesmay be present, such as stabilizers, lubricants, colourants and fillersor reinforcing agents, such as glass fibres and minerals. A suitablechoice of these agents is entirely within the capabilities of oneskilled in the art and does not require any inventive effort.

It will be clear that various variants and modifications of the presentinvention and the embodiments described are possible, which are withinthe capabilities of one skilled in the art on the basis of the presentdescription and his professional knowledge. Such variants are all withinthe scope of this invention, which is defined by the following claims.

1. Polymer composition, wherein two or more essentially incompatiblepolymers, each containing functional hydroxy groups or functional aminogroups, are in contact with each other in the presence of at least onecombatibilizer, wherein the polymer composition comprises at least twophases and in that the compatibilizer is carbonyl bislactam (CBL) of thefollowing formula (1):

where n is an integer from 3 to
 15. 2. Polymer composition according toclaim 1, wherein the two or more essentially incompatible polymers allcontain either functional hydroxy groups or functional amino groups. 3.Polymer composition according to claim 1, wherein the compatibilizer iscarbonyl biscaprolactam.
 4. Polymer composition according to claim 1,wherein the composition contains a semi-crystalline polymer and/or aglassified amorphous polymer (A) and an elastomeric polymer (B), A beingpresent in an amount by weight of 5 to 95% and B in an amount by weightof 95 to 5%.
 5. Polymer composition according to claim 1, wherein themolar ratio between the number of functional —OH or —NH₂ groups and theCBL lies between 500:1 and 10:1.
 6. Polymer composition according toclaim 4, wherein the composition is an impact resistant polymercomposition.
 7. Process for the preparation of a polymer compositionthat contains at least two phases comprising contacting two or morepolymers, each containing functional hydroxy groups and/or functionalamino groups, with a compatibilizer, wherein the compatibilizer iscarbonyl bislactam of the following formula (1):

where n is an integer from 3 to
 15. 8. Process according to claim 7,wherein the compatibilizer is carbonyl biscaprolactam.
 9. Processaccording to claim 7 wherein the molar ratio between the number offunctional —OH or —NH₂ groups of the polymer components and the CBL liesbetween 500:1 and 10:1.
 10. Shaped parts containing at least two partsthat are in contact with each other via a boundary face, each of theseparts containing a different polymer, these polymers being essentiallyincompatible polymers and containing functional hydroxy groups and/orfunctional amino groups and at least one of said polymers having reactedwith carbonyl bislactam.
 11. Process for the preparation of a shapedpart, comprising at least a first and a second part, the first andsecond part being based on, respectively, a first and a second polymer,with each polymer containing functional hydroxy groups and/or functionalamino groups, these parts being in contact with each other via aboundary face and with at least the first and/or the second polymerhaving reacted with carbonyl bislactam, by contacting a melt of thesecond polymer with the first polymer.
 12. Process for the preparationof a shaped part according to claim 11, the carbonyl bislactam beingcarbonyl biscaprolactam.
 13. Process for the preparation of a shapedpart according to claim 11, the shaped part being a multilayer laminate.14. Process for the preparation of a multilayer laminate containing anadhesive layer, characterized in that the adhesive layer contains CBL ora polymer with functional hydroxy groups and/or functional amino groupsthat has reacted with carbonyl bislactam.
 15. Process according to claim11, the shaped part being formed via overmoulding or insert moulding.16. Use of CBL during coextrusion of two or more essentiallyincompatible polymers that contain functional hydroxy and/or aminogroups.
 17. Process for the preparation of a shaped part according toclaim 12, the shaped part being a multilayer laminate.
 18. Processaccording to claim 12, the shaped part being formed via overmoulding orinsert moulding.